Music

A major and minor are offered in Music.

The Franklin Pierce Difference

Music IllustrationA Student ensembles at Franklin Pierce include the Choral Union, the annual Messiah Festival and Lachrimae, which focus on music of the Renaissance and Middle Ages.

The Music curriculum provides a foundation for students who intend to pursue graduate study or a professional career in music. The program at Franklin Pierce University offers a wide array of opportunities for instrumental and vocal study, performance, and the pursuit of music theory, history and music technology.

Franklin Pierce music ensembles perform at the University, throughout the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire and beyond. In addition to required courses for each concentration Music majors must complete the Individual and Community liberal arts core courses to gain skills in effective communication, critical thinking, creative problem solving and collaboration. This provides a competitive advantage in today's music industry where musicians must be able to describe and promote their work and collaborate with teams of artists, producers and others in the field.

Course Details

Students can pursue one of three concentration areas in Music: the Performance Concentration, the Professional Concentration and the Music Technology Concentration. An audition must be passed for acceptance into the Performance Concentration. All Music majors must participate in a performance seminar at the end of every semester of private instruction, to demonstrate progress in their major instrument.

Read more about the new Concentration in Music Technology.

I've taken courses like Choral Union, Conducting, Women in Music and Computer Music. These classes have definitely given me a chance to explore more of the world of music. Because of them, I plan to pursue graduate work in Music and Women's Studies after graduating from Franklin Pierce University. I intend to conduct a small group while teaching Women in Music at the college level.

- Rose Vargas, '09

Want to know more?

Program Sheet ThumbnailDownload a Music Program Sheet to view on screen or print, or view the College at Rindge Academic Catalog for specific degree requirements and course information.

Contact

Franklin Pierce University
College at Rindge
1.800.437.0048
admissions@franklinpierce.edu

FACULTY

Professor 

David Brandes
Professor of Music
B. Mus., New England Conservatory
M.Mus., Boston University
brandede@franklinpierce.edu 

Associate Professor 
Paul Scharfenberger
Associate Professor of Music
B.Mus., University of Lowell
M.A., Keene State College
scharfpe@franklinpierce.edu

Assistant Professor
Lou Bunk
Assistant Professor of Music/Music Technology
B.A., Central Connecticut State University
M.A., Washington University
Ph.D., Brandeis University
bunkl@franklinpierce.edu

Lecturers
Larissa Blitz
Lecturer, Music
M.M., Manhattan School of Music
blitzl@franklinpierce.edu

Vic Hyman
Lecturer, Music
B.A., Franklin Pierce University
hymanv@franklinpierce.edu

Robert Johnson
Lecturer, English
Artist's Diploma, Boston Conservatory
johnsonr@franklinpierce.edu

Kim LaPointe
Lecturer, Music
B.Mus., Ithaca College
M.M., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
lapointeka@franklinpierce.edu

Denise Nolan
Lecturer of Music
B.Mus., Keene State College
B.S., Franklin Pierce University
M.M., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
noland@franklinpierce.edu

Lecturers
Floyd Oster

Lecturer of Music
A.A., Keene State College
osterf@franklinpierce.edu

Richard Page
Lecturer, Music
B.A., Westfield State College
pagerl@franklinpierce.edu

Douglas Perkins
Lecturer of Music
B.M., University of Cincinnati
College Conservatory of Music
M.M., A.D., Yale University
perkinsd@franklinpierce.edu

Scott Sanchez
Lecturer, Music
B.Mus., University of Denver
M.Mus., Yale University
sanchezs@franklinpierce.edu

Cornelia Schwartz
Lecturer, Music
B.M., M.M., The Juilliard School
schwartz.c@franklinpierce.edu

Jim Sharrock
Lecturer, Music
B.A., M.A., Louisiana State University
sharrockj@franklinpierce.edu

Frank Wallace
Lecturer, Music
B.Mus., San Francisco Conservatory
wallacef@franklinpierce.edu

Dorothy Yanish
Lecturer, Music
B.S., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M.Mus., Catholic University of America School of Music
yanishd@franklinpierce.edu

 

Co-Curricular
Opportunities

  • The annual spring musical gives students an opportunity to present public performances of major Broadway musicals and new musicals.
  • Choral Union is a large chorus of mixed voices that performs a variety of choral works with piano accompaniment.
  • The Music Department teaches techniques in the Pro Tools software that professional recording engineers are using today.
  • Seniors with sufficient skill may be invited to design lighting for one of the major department productions.
  • Lachrimae provides an opportunity to perform, in period costume, the music and dance of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Students, faculty and staff sing or play such early instruments as the recorder, cornamuse, sackbut, cornetto, harpsichord, rebec and harp.

Student Success

  • Franklin Pierce University music students are supported and encouraged to pursue internships in music to enhance their knowledge and experience. Culminating projects include a Senior Recital demonstrating an advanced level of applied instruction and performance professionalism; or a Senior Project for professional and technology track music students demonstrating advanced level of substantial research, creative work demonstrating proficiency in an area of musical interest and preparation.
  • Graduates have taught Pro Tools, worked at state-of-the-art recording studios, conducted ensembles, and become professional performing musicians. Many have also gone on to further their degrees and to become educators.

Angela Barone

"The music department has prepared me for the profession that I wish to pursue, audio engineering... Having a small department, I was able to receive one-on-one attention from my music professors... It also helped the professors to know how much I knew about the program so they could challenge me to the fullest. The other reason I enjoyed studying in the music department was because I was able to use the equipment, hands on, whenever I wanted. Through many projects during computer music classes. I learned the same techniques in the Pro Tools software that professional recording engineers are using today. "

- Angela Barone

Read more student comments...